Mohammad Nabi smashed five sixes in a remarkable 43 not out off only 12 balls as Kent Spitfires overwhelmed Surrey by nine wickets in a rain-shortened Vitality Blast contest at The Oval.

Nabi's assault included three sixes off Rikki Clarke in the third over of Kent's reply to Surrey's seven-over total of 54 for 4. He then finished things in the next over by slamming legspinner Imran Tahir for six, four, and six from successive balls.

It all meant Kent had raced to victory with three overs to spare, and strengthened their position in the South Group with a fourth win from four games.

Tahir had given Surrey some hope of defending what always looked a below-par total by having Kent's acting captain Daniel Bell-Drummond lbw for one in the first over of their reply.

But Afghanistan allrounder Nabi soon snuffed out those hopes with his big hitting, while Heino Kuhn looked on admiringly from the other end with nine not out.

Bell-Drummond said: "Mohammad strikes the ball so well, doesn't he? It is a pleasure to have him around. It was a big toss to win tonight, especially with the rain around, and we were able to know exactly what we had to chase.

"Things are going very well - there's a lot of experience and a lot of pace in the team, so it makes my job easy."

Surrey captain Aaron Finch said: "There was no doubt that our total was short of what we needed, but you are never sure how to go about it when you bat first in these circumstances. To walk out of the sheds after rain delays and immediately go hard from the start is always difficult."

Only opener Finch broke the shackles of Kent's disciplined bowling, finishing 36 not out from 20 balls with two sixes and a four. Play did not start until 8pm, initially because of afternoon and early-evening rain with the match starting as a 13-over affair. But after just one ball - bowled by Adam Milne to Will Jacks who played and missed - more rain drove the players off again and, eventually, the match re-started at 8.50pm as a seven-over contest.

Milne, remarkably, completed a maiden in that opening over with three byes the only runs scored, but Jacks cut the first delivery of the second over from Hardus Viljoen to the square third-man boundary to get Surrey's innings going.

Paceman Viljoen soon had his revenge when Jacks mis-hit to extra cover to go for five, leaving Finch to loft the last ball of the powerplay - the first ball of the third over - straight for four before bludgeoning Nabi's offspin for six and, in the final over, reverse-flicking Milne for another maximum.

Ollie Pope managed just one four, a brilliant reverse-flick off left-arm seamer Fred Klassen before hitting to deep mid-wicket off Nabi and Jordan Clark lost his off stump swinging at Viljoen. Surrey's fourth wicket fell when Tom Curran skied to extra cover in Milne's second over.

Their total looked way short of par, even on a pitch offering plenty to the seamers, and so it would prove.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers are the strongest favorites to make the playoffs, while the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns have the longest odds to reach the postseason.

Caesars Sportsbook on Tuesday released Yes/No odds on each team's playoff chances. The Bucks at -5,000 are the biggest favorites to make next year's postseason, followed closely by the 76ers at -4,000.

The Boston Celtics (-1,000), Indiana Pacers (-900), Toronto Raptors (-400), Brooklyn Nets (-340), Miami Heat (-300) and Orlando Magic (-160) round out the eight teams favored to reach next season's Eastern Conference playoffs.

In the Western Conference, the LA Clippers (-2,500), Utah Jazz (-1,600), Houston Rockets (-1,400), Denver Nuggets (-1,200), Los Angeles Lakers (-1,200), Golden State Warriors (-400), Portland Trail Blazers (-280) and San Antonio Spurs (-250) are favored to reach next year's playoffs.

Despite several superstars changing teams in the offseason, the playoff picture in both conferences is similar to last season. Fourteen of the 16 teams that reached last year's playoffs are favored to return this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons are the only teams that are underdogs to reach the playoffs this season after making the postseason in 2019. Caesars has the Thunder at +850 and the Pistons at +140 to make the 2020 playoffs.

The Warriors are expected to be back in the playoffs, but their odds have been tempered compared to previous years. Entering last season, Golden State was a massive favorite to make the playoffs, listed as high as -20,000. A bettor at the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas placed a $67,000 bet that the Warriors would make the playoffs at -10,000 odds and was rewarded with a $670 profit when the Warriors did indeed reach the postseason.

Things have changed with Golden State, though. With Kevin Durant off to Brooklyn and injured Klay Thompson expected to miss the bulk of the regular season, the Warriors are not nearly as convincing of favorites to make the playoffs this year. However, there are still believers in Golden State.

"We took a respected bet on [the Warriors] to win the [Pacific] Division," Jeff Sherman, SuperBook vice president of risk, told ESPN on Tuesday, adding that only the Lakers had attracted more bets to win the NBA title than the Warriors at the Westgate.

The SuperBook posted Yes/No NBA playoff odds on Monday. Sherman said bettors backed the "No" on the Nets at +300, and the "Yes" on the Chicago Bulls (+375) and New Orleans Pelicans at +300.

The Suns and Grizzlies are each 15-1 to make the playoffs, the longest odds of any team to start.

The New York Knicks are +500 underdogs to make the playoffs at Caesars Sportsbook.

Sherman said the SuperBook moved the Knicks' odds to win the NBA title to 1,000-1 after free agency played out. Since moving their odds to that price, the SuperBook has taken two bets on the Knicks to win the NBA title.

The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Tuesday that the team has agreed to a deal with point guard Trey Burke.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Trey's experience as a ball handler matched with his scoring ability makes him a good fit for our roster," GM Elton Brand said in a statement.

Burke, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, has spent time with the Jazz, Wizards, Knicks and, most recently, the Mavericks, where he averaged 9.7 points (46% from the field, 36% from 3) and 2.6 assists in 17.4 minutes per game.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Ken Giles, a trade target of bullpen-needy teams, had a cortisone shot in his right elbow on Tuesday and will not be cleared to play catch for another two days, according to multiple reports.

The Athletic was first to report Giles receiving the cortisone shot.

The righty has been unavailable the past two games because of elbow soreness, manager Charlie Montoyo said.

"He's working through it. If he's not 100 percent, we're not going to pitch him," Montoyo said following Monday night's game.

Giles has been dealing with inflammation in his right elbow since June, when he spent 10 days on the injured list.

Giles, who earned the nickname "100 Miles Giles" because of the speed of some of his pitches, has impressive numbers this season when he has been able to pitch: 14 saves in 15 opportunities, a 1.54 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 35 innings.

The timing of his latest elbow woes could cost Toronto a chance to pick up a prospect or two before Wednesday's trade deadline.

Major League Baseball has fined, but not suspended, Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer for Sunday's tantrum that resulted in him throwing the ball from the mound over the center-field fence, according to media reports Tuesday.

MLB Network was the first to report Bauer had been fined. The amount of the fine is not known.

Indians manager Terry Francona, meanwhile, hadn't decided what action, if any, the team will take regarding Bauer's outburst. He said he would discuss the incident further with team president Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff after the trade deadline..

"'To be honest with you, I need to figure out what I consider is proper and respectful," Francona told reporters Tuesday. "I would never do something without Chris and Chernie's input. I thought they were so busy that it just wasn't right to put that on their plate.

"So there will be a time to get to that. After they hear from the league, and after they get a chance to settle down a little bit, we can discuss exactly what's right as we move forward."

Bauer threw the ball as Francona was coming onto the field to take him out of the game in the fifth inning of Sunday's 9-6 loss to the Royals.

After the game, Bauer apologized for his behavior.

"I want to be clear that my frustrations were with myself and my inability to stop the situation and keep my team in the game," Bauer said. "I'm an intense competitor. That fire is what drives me. Today, it completely consumed me and took over."

"... It was unbecoming. It was childish. Unprofessional. There's no place for it in the game."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Olympic 800m champion’s legal team says prior rulings which temporarily suspended IAAF eligibility regulations have been reversed

The legal team of Caster Semenya says the Olympic and world 800m champion will be prevented from defending her world title in Doha following a new ruling by a Swiss Federal Supreme Court judge.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, the judge reversed prior rulings that had temporarily suspended the IAAF’s eligibility regulations for Semenya, pending the outcome of the South African’s appeal which was submitted after she lost her landmark case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the governing body’s new rules on female classification.

“I am very disappointed to be kept from defending my hard-earned title,” read a statement from Semenya, “but this will not deter me from continuing my fight for the human rights of all of the female athletes concerned.”

The IAAF’s new rules relate to restricting testosterone levels in female runners in certain events.

The ‘IAAF Eligibility Regulations for Female Classification (Athletes with Differences of Sex Development (DSD))’ had originally been due to come into effect on November 1, 2018, but were suspended. Following the CAS ruling, the regulations started on May 8.

Under the new rules Semenya – and other female athletes with DSD – would need to reduce their natural testosterone level in order to take part in women’s events from 400m to the mile in international competition.

Semenya last raced at the Prefontaine Classic in June, when she ran 1:55.70 to win the 800m during the suspension of the IAAF’s regulations.

A statement from Semenya’s team read: “Caster Semenya remains steadfast in her defiance of the highly controversial IAAF Regulations that require female athletes with naturally elevated testosterone levels to undergo hormonal drug intervention in order to compete in international competitions.”

Dorothee Schramm, the lawyer leading Semenya’s appeal, added: “The judge’s procedural decision has no impact on the appeal itself. We will continue to pursue Caster’s appeal and fight for her fundamental human rights. A race is always decided at the finish line.”

Earlier on Tuesday, ahead of the release of the statement from her team, Semenya posted a message on social media which read: “First chapter of my life done, looking forward to my second chapter.”

First chapter of my life done, looking forward to my second chapter.

— Caster Semenya (@caster800m) July 30, 2019

According to the IAAF, the Swiss Federal Tribunal is due to issue its full decision on Wednesday (July 31), with the governing body adding: “The IAAF will comment once the tribunal makes its reasoning public.”

British number two Dan Evans lost in the Washington Open first round after appearing to struggle in hot conditions against Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka.

Evans, 29, lost nine of the final 10 games in a 6-4 6-1 defeat.

World number 51 Evans started the match strongly by breaking Nishioka's serve for a 2-0 lead, but could not back it up by holding in the next game.

Nishioka, ranked 77th, broke again for 5-4 and served out the opener, going on to dominate a 27-minute second set.

British number Kyle Edmund returns to action for the first time since Wimbledon when he plays 22-year-old South African Lloyd Harris, who took a set off Roger Federer in the first round at the All England Club, later on Tuesday.

STATESVILLE, N.C. – Niece Motorsports and Ross Chastain will pay tribute to one of dirt racing’s greatest this week at Eldora Speedway.

The No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will carry the iconic JW Hunt paint scheme, made famous by Jack Hewitt, during the seventh annual Eldora Dirt Derby at the half-mile dirt oval.

“I grew up coming to Eldora,” said team general manager Cody Efaw. “This place means the world to me. To be able to race a truck here that pays homage to one of the best dirt racers there ever was is truly an honor. I hope Jack is proud of it.

“I know this whole team is proud to carry that paint scheme.”

Hewitt, who was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2002, was beloved by fans for his no-nonsense attitude. Never one to mince words, Hewitt did his talking on the race track, but did not shy away from speaking his mind.

In 1975, the Troy, Ohio native took his first spin in a sprint car at Eldora. Hewitt was no stranger to Earl Baltes’ dirt track, as his father Don had his fair share of success at the track too.

In 1998, Hewitt made history at Eldora as the first driver to win all four legs of the USAC Four Crown Nationals. Kyle Larson later repeated the feat in 2011.

Among Hewitt’s other accomplishments at the half-mile dirt track are 13 USAC National Sprint Car Series feature wins, three USAC National Midget Series wins, eight USAC Silver Crown Series wins, 16 modified wins, two All Star Circuit of Champions sprint car and one dirt late model Victory.

Hewitt’s success was not confined to Eldora, as on the strength of 12 victories, Hewitt secured the points title in 1985 with the All Star Circuit of Champions.

He was also a back-to-back champion in the USAC Silver Crown Series in 1986 and 1987.

“I’m excited to get to Eldora,” said Chastain. “This is definitely a new challenge for me, but I’m excited about the opportunity to race at a track with such a rich history, and to carry this paint scheme makes it even more special.”

Chastain, who is coming off a win last week at Pocono Raceway, looks to solidify his position in the top 20 in the driver point standings before the playoffs begin.

“We’re not going to back down,” said Chastain.  “I always thought dirt was for farming, and asphalt is for racing.  But we’re going to learn something new.”

CONCORD, N.C. – Toyota Racing Development driver Logan Seavey, the defending USAC National Midget Series champion will return to Venturini Motorsports for a pair of ARCA Menards Series dirt races this fall.

Seavey will steer the No. 20 Turn One Steering/Craftsman Toyota in back-to-back ARCA appearances on two of Illinois’ legendary dirt miles – the Illinois State Fairgrounds on Aug. 18 and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on Aug. 31.

A native of Sutter, Calif., Seavey made two ARCA Racing Series starts last year with VMS. During his ARCA debut at the Illinois Fairgrounds in Springfield, Seavey started fourth and finished third.

In his second series race, the 21-year old driver tapped into his newfound stock car experience and drove to victory lane just weeks later at DuQuoin’s Magic Mile.

“I’m super excited and thankful to get another chance to run the dirt races in the ARCA series with Venturini Motorsports,” said Seavey. “With the success of last year’s races and all of the knowledge I’ve gained since then I know we will have a really good shot at both races this year.

“I have more experience with pit road, restarts, and just driving stock cars in general, so I feel like I have a better grasp to put together all the variables it takes to win a stock car race.”

Seavey rejoins a VMS team with 10 victories out of 15 starts on the year. His teammates include ARCA championship contenders Michael Self and Christian Eckes, who have combined for five of VMS’ wins this season.

Picking up where he left off at the end of last year, Seavey has been continued his torrid pace by crisscrossing the country and winning 11 times already this summer.

Ten of his wins have been behind the wheel of a Keith Kunz Motorsports-prepared Toyota midget. He was also crowned champion of Indiana Midget Week and POWRi Speed Week.